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Sheema district leaders and police officers pose for a group photo (All photos by Bruno Mugizi)
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By Bruno Mugizi
SHEEMA - In a bid to enhance security across the country, the Uganda Police Force is set to roll out a new sub-county policing model. This was announced by Senior Commissioner of Police (SCP) Musana John Geoffrey, Deputy Director in charge of Construction, Estates, and Land Management in the Directorate of Logistics and Engineering, during the commissioning of a new central police station in Sheema District on Saturday last week.
Musana explained that the new model will involve closing existing police stations in the sub-counties and consolidating them into one well-equipped sub-county police station. Each subcounty will have one centralized station staffed with 18 personnel and three motorcycles for patrolling.
"As you're aware, the President has directed the police force to implement what he termed, through his guidance, as the Subcounty Policing Model. In other words, all subcounties in the country should have 18 personnel and three motorcycles for quick mobility," Musana explained.
He added that district police commanders have been instructed to begin implementing the model immediately. "I have been informed that Kitagata and Masheruka subcounties have already operationalized this directive. Please, it should not stop there because this is a presidential directive that we need to enforce," he emphasized.
While acknowledging the shortage of officers, Musana assured the public that recruitment is underway to address the staffing gaps in police posts.
Sam Orikunda, the Sheema Deputy Resident Commissioner, highlighted the challenge of domestic violence in the district, which often escalates into land disputes and even murders. He urged religious leaders to provide counseling to families to curb this growing issue.
Dickson Kateshumbwa, the Member of Parliament for Sheema Municipality, cautioned police officers against mismanaging case files and emphasized the importance of proper crime management.
"Now that you have a new station, make sure you professionally handle cases better than before. You used to say you didn’t have enough space; now you do, so ensure files are properly investigated and handled. When you take someone to court, we should no longer hear issues of missing evidence or mishandled files," Kateshumbwa said.
He assured the public that political leaders would ensure the Judicial Service Commission serves the people effectively. "If the police do their work correctly, there will be no excuse for the state attorney to dismiss cases," he added.
Kateshumbwa also urged the police to manage crime effectively to ensure peace in Sheema. "The most important expectation from the police is that you manage crime. I know it cannot be eliminated 100%, but it can be significantly contained so that our people live peacefully," he said.
Meanwhile, Kasule Consilata, the Sheema District Police Commander, noted that the new station will serve not only as a base for policing operations but also as a welcoming environment for the community.
"I believe this new facility will enhance our capabilities, providing a welcoming space for dialogue and collaboration between the police and the community we serve," Kasule stressed.
Professor Elijah Mushemeza, the Member of Parliament for Sheema South, reaffirmed the leaders' commitment to supporting security agencies in achieving the social-economic transformation agenda.
Torch Media Africa
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